NorCo Council Votes 6-3 to Override McClure Veto of Ordinance Designed to Hamstring Exec Zrinski

At a hastily called "special" meeting of Northampton County Council last night, members voted 6-3 to override the veto of an ordinance that intrudes upon incoming Executive Tara Zrinski's ability to get things done, i.e. administer. It appears to be a last-minute effort to hamstring her by a lame duck Council. She is being punished for Lamont McClure's sins. In addition to being substantively flawed, the ordinance that was vetoed by outgoing Exec Lamont McClure was adopted in violation of both the Sunshine Act and Robert's Rules, as I explained in a post on Wednesday. 

Voting to override were Council members Lori Vargo Heffner, Tom Giovanni, John Brown, John Goffredo, Jeff Corpora and Ron Heckman. Four of these members will be off County Council at the end of this month.  Voting against the override were Council members Ken Kraft, Jeff Warren and Kelly Keegan. 

Before the vote, McClure outlined the reasons for his veto, including his argument that the ordinance was adopted in violation of recent changes to the Sunshine Act. The ordinance in question had been tabled for four months. Under Robert's Rules an indefinitely table matter dies unless it is removed from the table at the next meeting. In fact, when this matter was first brought up, County Council Solicitor Chris Spadoni said it had to be readvertised but quickly shut up when Vargo Heffner complained it had already been advertised once.  

Last night, Spadoni was no better. After McClure explained precisely why the ordinance was adopted in violation of the Sunshine Act, Spadoni's sole legal response was "I disagree."

Last night was Spadoni's last as Council's solicitor. 

When a new Council convenes in January, I suspect the very first item of business will be the repeal of this substantively and procedurally flawed ordinance. 

If County Council wants to administer the county, then they should seek a Home Rule Charter study and revert back to the Commissioner form of ogvernment. Then they can micromanage to their heart's content. 

Who Is Your Pick For NorCo Exec?

Zrinski

Two Democrats - Amy Cozze and Tara Zrinski - seek the Democratic nomination for Northampton County Executive, which Lamont McClure is leaving at the end of this year. The winner of that race will go on to face Republican Tom Giovanni, who is running unopposed for the GOP nod. 

The position of County Executive was established in NorCo's Home Rule Charter and essentially gives him or her control over administrative functions and proposing a budget. The Executive is elected once every four years but is unable to serve more than two consecutive terms. The salary is currently set at $125,000.

I'm a Democrat and hence am unable to vote for Tom Giovanni. My choice is between Zrinski and Cozze. Each candidate has sent one mailer. Neither has been negative, although Cozze's campaign manager has lashed out at Zrinski for not being gay enough. That's odd because Cozze actually thanked Zrinski for stands Tara as a Council member had taken on LGBTQ issues. 

Amy Cozze

Although she has poor people skills, Cozze did do a good job as Elections Registrar. But she also threatened to resign just 12 days before an election unless her salary demands were met. That's blackmail. She put her own personal interests ahead of what is best for the county, and I could never support her for anything. 

Another thing that troubles me is that, in a Democratic primary, she has studiously avoided mention of her own gayness. Why? Her campaign manager took Zrinski to task over LGBTQ matters, but Cozze herself has said nothing about her own sexual orientation. Does she think Democrats are intolerant?

I was highly critical of Zrinski when she was on County Council but have been pleasantly surprised by the good job she has done as Controller. She has a good relationship with and is fiercely protective of her staff. She has avoided the temptation to promote unrelated topics that have nothing to do with county government, which is what her counterpart in Lehigh County regularly does. She also has a better understanding of county government than Cozze after serving as a Council member and as Controller. 

Mail-in ballots are out, so now would be a good time to make your case for either Democrat. 

Lehigh County GOP Exec Candidates to Debate Thursday Night

Brad Osborne is a radio host who formerly served as a Lehigh County Comm'r and was once the GOP standard bearer in the Executive race. So it's safe to say he understands county government. He'll be hosting a debate Thursday night for GOP Exec candidates Roger MacLean and Mike Welsh. The debate is open to the public and will run about an hour, starting at 7 pm. 

It will take place at Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 Elm Street, Allentown, Pa. 

The winner of this race will face Josh Siegel, who is running unopposed on the Democratic side. 

Werner Rules Out NorCo Exec Seat

Steve Barron and Bob Werner, on the day
both were locked out of a John Brown news conference

This summer, at a picnic of exuberant Easton Democrats, NorCo Council member Bob Werner announced rather prematurely that he was running for Executive. He's had second thoughts. He confirmed last night that he has decided against running.

Werner is a mixed bag. He's very dedicated and rarely misses a meeting. He is also bipartisan, and has worked with proud tea party member Hayden Phillips on several issues. But he lacks spontaneity, even to the point of writing out his Council speeches. When he attempts to play interrogator, he usually ends up looking both foolish and angry.

He'd of course win Easton because But that is it. He'd end up forcing the eventual Democratic nominee, Lamont McClure, to waste money that should be saved for the general election against John Brown.  Brown

LC Exec Candidate Croslis and His DUI Delay

Don Cunningham has resigned as Lehigh County Executive to take over as top dog at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., where the pay's much better better and there are even Summer Hours. According to Express Times reporter Colin McEvoy, five Democrats want Cunningham's old job. One of them is Allentown Attorney Matt Croslis. But would he be the right fit?

Though his firm has been a clearing house for local Democrats seeking office, Croslis is doing his best to impress a very conservative Board of Commissioners that he's a kindred soul. One of them. Who knows? Maybe he listens to Rush Limbaugh. Better yet, maybe he's read Comm'r Scott Ott's Laughing at Obama. (available for just 99 cents).

He's also defending Controller Glenn Eckhart, an affable but ardent conservative, against DA Jim Martin's claim that Eckhart is ineligible to hold the office. That's worth a few points with 7 of Lehigh County's 9 Commissioners.

But what bothers me about Matt's application is the inordinate delay in a DUI prosecution filed against him last year. According to Lehigh County records, he was charged on 12/12/11 with driving under the influence, along with an assortment of other minor charges. But even though it is a first offense, the kind of matter that should be disposed of quickly with an ARD application, Croslis has managed to delay and delay it at the Magistrate's level. It was finally sent to Court on June 26, over 6 months after charges were originally filed.

On June 2, I asked Croslis to explain this delay. "[T]he delay makes me wonder whether the system is being gamed. I believe this is going to come out if you formally apply for appointment, so I would like to give you an opportunity to get your side of the story out there. I will probably note the charges, with no editorial comment. Is there anything you can tell me? Can you explain the delay?"

Just as every dog is entitled to one bite, I think every person is entitled to one DUI. In the case of an Irishman, maybe two.

But this delay bothers me.

Croslis promised to get back to me, but never did. That's a mistake. In an office that should be transparent, Croslis is intent on keeping us in the dark.

His "kick the can down the road" approach to problems would be a disservice to Lehigh County's citizenry.

Updated 2:00 PM: I just spoke to Matt Croslis. He decided that he would wait to answer my June 2 email until he decided to seek the position of Executive, and he only made that decision late last week. He told me he will be answering my questions. But as far as the DUI is concerned, he tells me there was no gaming. He applied for one continuance because he had the flu. The second continuance was by the District Judge. Croslis told me he has no control over scheduling.